Effects of atmospheric pressure plasma on microorganisms and human cells

Summary form only given. Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) has been studied over the years as an excellent biological and medical tool for its simplicity in application and its capability to induce various bio-chemical reactions. In this presentation, we show the effect of APP on inactivation of various microorganisms (E. coli, Bacillus subtillis, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium) by showing several log reduction of the microbial population, and on mammalian cells especially focused on how plasma influences the actual structure and physiology of the treated cells. For microorganism inactivation, the surfaces for inoculation of the pathogens and plasma treatment were chosen to be not only agar plates but also disposable food containers and processed meat surfaces (cooked chicken breast, ham, and bacon) for demonstrating the capability of APP for improvement of food safety and prolonging the shelf-life of such foods. APP jets with various plasma conditions were attempted by He, He + O2, N2, or N2 + O2 gases.